2019 Citizen of the Year

At their June 17, 2019, meeting, the Watertown Charter Township Board of Trustees honored RON OVERTON as the 2019 Citizen of the Year. This award honors residents who have displayed exemplary commitment, support, leadership, or service to the Watertown Township community:

The following tribute was presented:

Special Tribute to Ron Overton

2019 Citizen of the Year

LET IT BE KNOWN that it is a privilege to extend our sincerest praise and commendation to Ron Overton in acknowledgement of his attaining the distinct honor of being named “2019 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR” for the Charter Township of Watertown.

Ability, commitment, and integrity have been reflected in all of Ron’s work volunteering in the community. Ron was appointed to the Planning Commission in 1993 and continues as the Board Representative to this day. He has served on many committees throughout the years including Parks and Rec, Zoning Board of Appeals, Environmental Issues, and Backyard Wildlife Habitat, as well as Watertown Township Trustee. We greatly appreciate his willingness to contribute to the community in this way.

Ron and his wife Marty have been married for 33 years and have a son, Steve, and daughter-in-law, Lisa. Ron enjoys spending time with his 2 grandsons, Mason and Carter. He has resided on Looking Glass Brook for 30 plus years. Ron retired from Michigan Department of Transportation after 35 years of service, where he served as Department Manager for Transportation Planning/Asset Management. Ron is a Vietnam War Veteran having served 4 years as a United States Marine Corps. He is a master gardener, watershed preservationist extraordinaire and naturalist. He can frequently be seen in and around our local township parks planning for and planting native trees and vegetation that are vital in helping keep the riverbanks stable and healthy. He is also a founding member of the Looking Glass Garden Club and he is a volunteer tour guide at the Beal Botanical Gardens at Michigan State University for 20 plus years as well as the volunteer coordinator. In Ron’s “free” time, he enjoys, gardening, landscaping, golf, travelling, and coin collecting.

IN SPECIAL TRIBUTE, therefore, this document is signed and dedicated to commend and congratulate Ron Overton as Watertown Charter Township’s “2019 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR.”